Air and gas cleaner



Aug. 1, 1944. E. FLFISHER AIR AND GAS CLEANER Filed June 1, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l rlu Aug. 1, 1944."

E. F. FISHER AIR AND GAS CLEANER Filed June 1, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 1, 1,944

f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Ernest F. Fisher, Boston, Mass. Application Junel, 1942, Serial No. 445,324 6 Claims. (01. 183-25) This invention is a gas cleaner, having some features in common with the cleaner shown in my Patent 2,259,033 granted Oct. 14, 1941, and

' in my application Serial Number 444,583, filed may 26, 1942.

The cleaner of the present invention is of the type wherein gas is brought into intimate contact with the liquid, the liquid serving to precipitate and cleanse. the gas from suspended dust and other-materials. The gas being cleaned is usually air, and liquid used is 'usually water, and

the invention will be so described, without, how- I ever, limiting the invention to the use or 'air or water.

In the present invention, dust laden air is passed upwardly through a large vertically positioned open-ended tube and then-passes laterally outwardly through swirling vanes, a heavy stream of water being simultaneously projectedthrough and against the swirling vanes for bringing the air and water into intimate contact. The principal object of the present invention is to eflect a separation of the air passing outwardly through the swirling vanes into two portions, one portion being caused to recirculate downwardly and then upwardly through the open-ended tube, this recirculation oi a portion of the dust laden air serving to more thoroughly clean the air of its burden of dust and other impurities.

More specifically, the invention comprises swirling vanes above the top of the open-ended tube, in combination with a battle ring positioned adjacent the vertical discharge edges of the swirling vanes at an intermediate position along their outer vertical edges, that is to say, positioned between the upper and lower edges or the swirling vanes, whereby this'baflle ring splits the air leaving the swirling vanes into two parts, that part passing below the baiile rin being caused to recirculate through the tube. The baille ring also directs some of the water onto the swirling vanes, so that some of the water passing through such vanes will be entrained by the air that passes through the vanes, below the ballle, for wetting the annular space around the tube. while the rest of the water passes down on the inside oi the vertical tube for keeping it wet.

Further advantages 01! structure and operation will be apparent from the accompanying drawings, in which:

comprises a vertically disposed casing 2 having a conical collecting bottom 4 for the dust, water through. Baflle 12 has drain holes I! therethrough. Just below the lower end of pipe ll there is positioned a deflecting plate I! which deflects water laterally and radially in all direc-' tions through vertically positioned, angularly placed swirling vanes l8, these vanes being placed between flange Ill and the outer portion of the baiiie l2. The water deflected by. plate It is pro-f jected over the entire surfaces of the vanes i2; as the water travels laterally, it drops somewhat by gravity, and so contacts and wets the lower portions of vanes it, those portions below the inner edge 01 ring baflle 22. Some of, this water is projected through the lower part of vanes l2, entraining with'it some dust-laden air," which is thoroughlywetted and falls as sludge into the conical bottom 4. From a consideration of Fig. 3 it will be apparent thatthe vanes "give a circular motion to the water and air passing outwardly therethrough.

Coming now to the most important feature of the present invention, a baille ring, 20, which is downwardly and inwardly inclined, has its outer edge against the inside wall 01 the casing 2, while its inner edge "is substantially against vertical edges 24 of the vanes T2; Edge 22 need not actually .be in contact with the vanes but this edge i 'preierably as close to said vanes as convenient.

From the described construction, it will be evident that the baille ring 20 serves to split any gas and liquid passingv outwardly through the swirling vanes l2 into two portions; the air and water passing above the ring 22 circulates with a rotary motion in the chamber 22 and thence passes upwardly through the droplet collector 2| and exit pipe 20. I Most of the liquid will be collected by the ring 22 and will'flow from its inner edge 22 over the lower portions of the. vanes it onto the flange l0 and thence onto the inside 01 the tube 2, keeping the inside oilth'e tube I thoroughly wet and clear of accumulated dust. The air and liquid passing through the vanes I 8 below the ring 20 is given a rotary motion, Joining with the air already rotating in that portion of the 1 air that passes casing. Some of the water from plate I 6 is pro- Jected through the lower part of vanes l8, below ring baiiie 20, entraining with it some dust laden air, thereby wettingit and precipitating it as sludge in conical bottom 4. The air thus being recirculated, inasmuch as it passes below the ring 20, contains the more and heavier dust particles and so the valuable result is achieved of recirculating and washing again the air that carries the most dust and the heavier dust. The air and dust recirculated below ring 20 must pass througlkthe sheet of water flowing downwardly and inwardly oi! the inner edge of ring baflle 20; this air and dust also is subjected to part of the water spray from the liquid spreader plate l2,

and this air and dust also contacts the lower part of the wet bames it. Such recirculated air and dust are therefore thoroughly wetted, the result of which is that the wet dust drops as sludge into sludge collector l,.and the air thus recirculated is cleaned. I 1

While the inbrention has been illustrated in some detail, it should be understood that the for said casing, a large, vertically positioned, open-ended tube in said casing, having an outwardly inclined flange at the upper end thereof, a disc baiile above the upper end of said tube, swirling vanes positioned between the outer part of said disc battle and said flange on the tube, liquid spreading means below the disc bame, for directing liquid laterally and outwardly through said swirling vanes, a liquid supply pipe passing through the disc baflie for supplying liquid under pressure to said liquid spreading means and a battle ring, extending from the'inner wall of the.

casing substantially to the outer vertical edges of said swirling vanes, at a level between the upper and lower edges of said vanes, said baifie ring serving to split outwardly traveling gas into two portions, the portion that passes below the baille ring being forced to recirculate through said large tube.

4. A gas cleaner, comprising in combination, a vertically positioned casing, a tangential air inlet for said casing, a large, vertically positioned,

, open-ended tube in said casing,- having an outinvention -is not limited to the exact details shown, but may be carried out in other ways.

I claim as my. invention:

1. ,A gas cleaner, comprising in combination, a vertically positionedicasing, a tangential air inlet for said ming, a large vertically positioned open-ended tube in said casing, a disc bailie above the upper end o! said tube, swirling vanes positioned between? the outer portion of the disc baiile and'the upper part or said tube, liquid spreading meansbelow the disc 'bame, for direct: ing liquid laterally and outwardly into said swirlwardly inclined flange at the upper end thereof, a disc bailie above the upper end of said tube, swirling vanes positioned between the outer part of said disc bailie and said flange on the tube, a

liquid spreading plate, below the disc baflle, for directing liquid laterally and outwardly through said swirling vanes, a liquid supply pipe passing through the disc baille for supplying liquid under pressure to said liquid spreading plate, and a ing vanes, a liquid'supply pipe passing through the disc baiiie iorsupplying liquid under pressure to said liquid spreading means and a baflle ring extending from th inner wall of the casing to said swirling van substantiallyv meeting said vanes at points b tween theiriupper. and lower edges, said ring serving to split the outwardly travelingliquid and gas into two portions, the r ing liquid laterally and outwardly into said swirling-vanes, aliquid supply pipe passing through the disc baiile for supplying liquid under pressure to said liquid spreading plate, and a downwardly and inwardly inclined baiiie' ring extending from the inner wall 02- the casing to said swirling vanes, substantially meeting said vanes at points between their upper'and lower edges, said ring serving to splitthe outwardly traveling liquid and gas into two portions, the air that passes below the baflle ring being forced to recirculate low the baiiie ring being 1orced;--

downwardly and inwardly inclined bame ring, extending from the inner wall of the casing substantially to the outer vertical edges of said swirling virus, at a level between the upper and lower edges 01 said vanes, said baflle ring serving to split outwardly traveling gas into two portions, the portion that passes below the baflie ring being forced to recirculate through said large tube, said bani; ring and flangethe open-ended tube alsc? serving to direct liquid downwardly and inwardly into the upper end of said open-ende tube for wetting the walls thereot, I

5. A gas eleane'ricomprising in combination, a vertically positioned casing, a gas inlet for said casing, a large, vertically positioned, open-ended tube in said casing, a disc baiiie positioned centrally above the .upper end oif said tube, swirling vanes positioned between the disc baflle and the upper end of said; tube, means below the disc baiiie for directing liquid laterally and outwardly through the swirling vanes, aliquid supply pipe passing through the disc battle for supplying liquid under pressure to said liquid spreading means and a baflie ring, positioned between the inner wall of the casing and the outer edges of ing, and the air passing outwardly below the baille through the said large open-ended tube, said inclined baflle ring also serving-to collect and direct liquid onto the lower part of said swirling 'trally above th upper end of said tube, swirling 3. A gas cleaner, comprising in combination, a

vertically positioned casing, a tangential air inlet ring being forcedto recirculate.

6. A gas cleaner, comprising in combinatioma vertically positioned casing, a gas inlet for said casing, a large, vertically positioned, open-ended tube in said casing, a disc baflle positioned cenvanes positioned between the disc bailie and the upper end of said tube, a liquid spreading plate below the disc baflie for directing liquid laterally and outwardly through the swirling vanes, a liquid supply pipe passing through the disc baflle I ring serving to wet the interior of the casing,

for supplying liquid under pressure to said liquid spreading plate, and a, downwardly and inwardly inclined baille ring, positioned between the inner wall of the casing and the outer edges of said swirling vanes, placed to split the gas and liquid leaving the vanes into two portions, the liquid passing outwardly with the gas below the baflle and the air passing outwardly below the heme ring being forced to recirculate, said baffle ring also serving to direct some liquid to the interior of said tube for wetting the inside walls thereof..

- ERNEST F. FISHER. 

